Food security project to use idle land for urban farming

Izham: The state government is encouraging urban farming in the city where land is considered a premium commodity.

MANY idle plots of land in Petaling Jaya have been identified for urban farming as a trial project to enhance food security in Selangor.

The initiative will also rope in the private sector, state infrastructure and public amenities, agricultural modernisation and agro-based industry committee chairman Izham Hashim said.

He said approval for the programme had been given to Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), which if successful, would be expanded to other local authorities.

“It is hoped this initiative encourages urban farming in the city as land is scarce and considered a premium commodity,” he said during his winding up speech.

Izham added that the state government was exploring a new urban farming concept known as “plant factory” which would make use of limited space.

Such activities, he said, involved indoor farming and artificial lighting to grow crops and several of such factories had been set up in Selangor.

The Petaling and Hulu Langat districts have five such facilities, while Gombak, Klang and Hulu Selangor have one each.

Izham, however, said there was a need to streamline the regulations with local authorities in Selangor in terms of permitted buildings and land use.